Overview
This lecture covers essential SAT vocabulary words, providing definitions, usage, and examples to help students build a strong vocabulary for exam success.
Vocabulary List (A)
- Abase: to humiliate or degrade someone.
- Abate: to reduce or lessen something.
- Abdicate: to give up a position of leadership.
- Abduct: to kidnap or take by force.
- Aberration: something that differs from the norm.
- Abet: to aid or encourage someone, especially in wrongdoing.
- Abhor: to hate or detest.
- Abide: to put up with or remain.
- Abject: wretched or pitiful.
- Abjure: to reject or renounce.
- Abnegation: denial of comfort to oneself.
- Abort: to give up a half-finished project or effort.
- Abridge: to cut down or shorten.
- Abrogate: to abolish, usually by authority.
- Abscond: to sneak away and hide.
- Absolution: freedom from blame, guilt, or sin.
- Abstain: to freely choose not to commit an action.
- Abstruse: hard to comprehend.
- Accede: to agree.
- Accentuate: to stress or highlight.
- Accessible: obtainable or reachable.
- Acclaim: high praise.
- Accolade: high praise or special distinction.
- Accommodating: helpful and polite.
- Accord: an agreement.
- Accost: to confront verbally.
- Accretion: slow growth in size or amount.
- Acerbic: bitter in tone or taste.
- Acquiesce: to agree without protest.
- Acrimony: bitterness or discord.
- Acumen: keen insight.
- Acute: sharp or severe; having keen insight.
- Adamant: unyielding or immovable.
- Adept: extremely skilled.
- Adhere: to stick to something or follow devoutly.
- Admonish: to caution or criticize.
- Adorn: to decorate.
- Adroit: skillful or dexterous.
- Adulation: extreme praise.
- Adumbrate: to sketch out vaguely.
- Adverse: unfavorable, antagonistic, or dangerous.
- Advocate: to argue in favor of something or a person who does so.
- Aerial: related to the air.
- Aesthetic: artistic, related to beauty.
- Affable: friendly, amiable.
- Affinity: a spontaneous feeling of closeness.
- Affluent: rich or wealthy.
- Affront: an insult.
Additional Vocabulary Highlights (A)
- Aggrandize: to increase or make greater.
- Aggregate: a whole or to gather into a mass.
- Aggrieved: distressed or wronged.
- Agile: quick or nimble.
- Agnostic: believing God’s existence cannot be proven or disproven.
- Agriculture: farming.
- Aisle: passageway between rows of seats.
- Alacrity: eagerness or speed.
- Alias: a false name.
- Allay: to soothe or ease.
- Allege: to assert, usually without proof.
- Alleviate: to relieve or make more bearable.
- Allocate: to distribute or set aside.
- Aloof: reserved or distant.
- Altercation: a dispute or fight.
- Amalgamate: to unite or bring together.
- Ambiguous: uncertain or open to interpretation.
- Ambivalent: having mixed feelings.
- Ameliorate: to improve.
- Amenable: willing or compliant.
- Amenity: an item increasing comfort.
- Amiable/Amicable: friendly.
- Amorous: showing love, especially sexual.
- Amorphous: without definite shape.
- Anachronistic: out of chronological order.
- Analgesic: something that reduces pain.
- Analogous: similar.
- Anarchist: one who wants to eliminate all government.
- Anathema: a detested person.
- Anecdote: a short, humorous account.
- Anesthesia: loss of sensation.
- Anguish: extreme sadness or torment.
- Animated: lively.
- Annex: to incorporate territory; a room attached to a larger space.
- Annul: to make void or invalid.
- Anomaly: something not normal.
- Anonymous: being unknown.
- Antagonism: hostility.
- Antecedent: something that came before.
- Antediluvian: ancient.
- Anthology: a collection of writings or songs.
- Antipathy: strong dislike.
- Antiquated: old or out of date.
- Antiseptic: clean or sterile.
- Antithesis: the absolute opposite.
- Anxiety: intense uneasiness.
- Apathetic: lacking concern or emotion.
- Apocryphal: false or fictitious.
- Appalling: shocking or disgusting.
- Appease: to calm or satisfy.
- Appraise: to assess value.
- Apprehend: to seize or understand.
- Approbation: praise.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Abase — to humiliate or degrade.
- Abstain — to choose not to do something.
- Abridge — to shorten or cut down.
- Accede — to agree.
- Acquiesce — to agree without protest.
- Adamant — unyielding or immovable.
- Adulation — extreme praise.
- Adverse — unfavorable or dangerous.
- Advocate — one who argues for something, or to do so.
- Aesthetic — artistic or related to beauty.
- Alacrity — eagerness or speed.
- Ambiguous — open to multiple interpretations.
- Ameliorate — to improve.
- Amiable — friendly.
- Antithesis — the opposite.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize this vocabulary list for SAT preparation.
- Practice using these words in sentences.
- Create your own flashcards with definitions and examples.